Here’s a look at a busy week in the NBA 1/21-1/27.

Five games: Milwaukee.

Four games: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indiana, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Memphis, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Seattle, Washington.

Three games: Detroit, Golden State, Miami, New York, Utah.

Two games: Toronto.
 
Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Travis Outlaw, F:
STAT: 16/6/2, 50%FG, over his last eight games.
He has yet to start a game for the Blazers this season, but Outlaw is posting numbers worthy of just about any fantasy lineup right now. He contributes across the board and is inching closer and closer to that sought after 1/1/1 three/steal/block threshold. The fifth year vet is a top candidate for the league’s sixth man of the year award and is outperforming perennial fantasy favorites like Tayshaun Prince and Josh Childress. Get the Outlaw in your lineups for four matchups this week.

DeShawn Stevenson, SG:
STAT: Until Friday he had drained at least 1 three in 18 consecutive games.
With increased minutes, Stevenson is averaging nearly 2 treys and 1.1 thefts over the last six weeks. He’s inconsistent but tends to go on hot streaks (see his 5-game stretch with 20 threes in December), which can give your fantasy squad a big boost any given week. The Wizards have four games on tap, making Stevenson a solid utility play this week.

Troy Murphy, FC:
FACT: Jermaine O’Neal will be sidelined for at least another two weeks.
O’Neal appears to be the new Marcus Camby… injured more often than not.  Murphy, known for his rebounding prowess, now fills in upfront for the Pacers. In and out of the starting lineup, the veteran big man has been anything but consistent this season. He now has, not only the opportunity, but the responsibility to step up and fill in the stat sheet with O’Neal sidelined for the foreseeable future. Who knows, J.O. may be facing another knee surgery which could knock him out for the season. If T-Murph is available in your league, go pick him up now. He may even be a decent buy-low candidate if you’re feeling lucky. Either way, get the former Irishman in your lineup as Indiana has a full schedule coming up.

Wally Szczerbiak, GF:
STAT: 17 ppg on 53% shooting in January.
Wally World has been putting up numbers similar to those of, rookie-of-the-year favorite, Kevin Durant lately. Trade talks involving Szczerbiak could be reason for his inspired play… rumors out this weekend have Wally and Earl Watson packing their bags for sunny Miami in exchange for Jason Williams, Dorrell Wright, and Ricky Davis. But those are just that… rumors. In the meantime, you should take advantage of the hot hand with four games this week.

Mike Bibby, PG:
FACT: Bibby is back.
He finally made his season debut last week, and has been impressive off the bench in his first three games back. Bibby will be eased back into the starting lineup this week, but he’s already seeing around 30 minutes a game. A pretty big disappointment last season, now healthy, Bibby has a chance to return to form (perhaps be traded) and redeem himself in fantasy land. Sactown’s got four games coming up… plug him in.

Please have a seat:

John Salmons, GF and Francisco Garcia, GF:
FACT: Bibby, Martin, Artest, and Miller are all healthy and playing well.
Salmons and Garcia’s fantasy value plummets just as quickly as it had ascended. Garcia has already returned to the bench, and while Salmons remains in the starting lineup, his minutes are obviously getting cut back and he is now the Kings’ 4th scoring option, at best.
 

Here’s a look at the NBA week 1/7-1/13.

Four games: Charlotte, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, LA Lakers, Memphis, Milwaukee, New York, Orlando, Phoenix.

Three Games: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Miami, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Antonio, Seattle, Toronto, Utah, Washington.

Two Games: Denver, LA Clippers, Portland.
 
Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Mike Conley, Jr., G: Deemed the most NBA-ready point guard in last year’s draft, Conley has struggled with injuries and limited playing time in his rookie year. At one point earlier in the season, the 4th overall pick, appeared to be fourth on the Grizzlies’ depth chart behind Damon Stoudamire, Kyle Lowry, and Juan Carlos Navarro. With the New Year comes change and new hope for the former Ohio State standout. 13-year veteran Stoudamire hasn’t seen any game action since December and is now demanding a trade. Lowry and J.C. Navarro have struggled and seen their minutes reduced lately, ergo Conley was recently inserted into Memphis’ starting lineup for the first time this season. 9/4/6 with 2 steals are his averages in his first two starts, but more importantly he’s seen a healthy 35 minutes in each game. Memphis has a full schedule this week, so get him in your lineup and you may not look back the rest of the season.

Chris Quinn, G: Oft-injured Jason Williams has missed 5 straight games with a sprained knee, which apparently isn’t getting better anytime soon. Dwayne Wade is also nicked up and could miss some time. Second-year guard, Chris Quinn will get the start at the point and should see plenty of minutes for the foreseeable future.  Averaging 11/3/6 with 1 theft and 1.5 threes in two starts this month, the undrafted Irishman looks to make a fantasy splash this week.

Nate Robinson, G: The 2006 NBA Slam Dunk champ is averaging 17/4/2 with 2.3 treys over his last six games with increased playing time in New York. The Knicks are 0-6 over that stretch, but that’s not a major concern since we are only interested in fantasy performance… Plus, they’re the Knicks. Stephon Marbury has returned to action after missing several games since his father passed, but Big Nate is still seeing solid minutes. Robinson is a safe play as the Knicks hit the hardwood four times this week.

Antonio Daniels, PG: Returning from a sprained knee ligament earlier than expected, Daniels has posted 16/3/4 with a three and solid shooting in his first two games of the new year. Roger Mason returns to his reserve role, and Daniels is back in the driver’s seat in D.C. With Gilbert Arenas out indefinitely, Daniels is a decent PG2 and solid utility guy. Get him back in your lineups for three matchups this week.

Kurt Thomas, FC: Not a particularly exciting player, but Thomas can help a team in need of rebounds and blocks. He’s posted double digit rebounds in five straight contests and swats at least one shot a night. Plus, fellow frontcourt mate, Chris Wilcox is hurting which should open up some more playing time for Thomas this week. For those of you scrounging around for a C2 or utility player to plug in this week, the veteran big man is a decent option.

Happy New Year to all. Let’s look at the NBA week 12/31-1/6.

Four games: Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Indiana, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Portland.

Three Games: Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, LA Clippers, Memphis, Miami, New Jersey, New York, Orlando, Sacramento, San Antonio, Seattle, Toronto, Utah, Washington.

Two Games: LA Lakers, Phoenix.
 
Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Francisco Garcia, GF: Already seeing more time on the court since Kevin Martin got hurt, Garcia now finds himself back in the Kings’ starting lineup while Artest sits with a chipped bone in his elbow. The third-year swingman is a prime example of one of those efficient players who simply needs minutes to be a fantasy force. Averaging 19/4/3 with a three and 1.4 thefts as a starter, the Dominican baller is certainly a good guy to have in your lineup. Plug Francisco in for three contests this week.

Jeff Green, F: After a mini breakout with consecutive double-doubles in November, Green’s playing time was inexplicably cut back for most of December. The former Hoya was inserted into the Sonics’ lineup for his second start of the season last night, and he responded with 18 points on 8 for 14 shooting and swatted 3 shots as well. With the New Year on hand, Seattle appears to be looking to the future by getting their young players as many minutes as they can handle. As a starter, we can expect some nice fantasy contributions from the top 5 pick in 2008.

Roger Mason, PG: Not someone who was even remotely relevant in fantasy circles at the beginning of the year, Mason suddenly finds himself as the starting floor general in the nation’s capital. The hometown hero spent time playing in Europe, Israel, and Japan in recent years, but has been doing his best Gilbert Arenas impression, averaging 17/4/4 with 2.8 treys and 1.3 steals in his last four starts. Gilbert’s regular fill-in, Antonio Daniels, will be sidelined at another week or so, leaving Mason as the primary ball handler in Washington. He’s the feel-good story of the New Year and deserves a spot in your lineup with three games on tap this week.

Rafer Alston, PG: After a slow start to the season and missing time with an injury earlier this month, Skip 2 My Lou appears to have rediscovered his groove. Rafer’s posted 13/3/6 with 2.7 treys over his last six games. The dude still can’t shoot (38.5% on the season), but he’s worth starting for his contributions elsewhere, especially with T-Mac’s health in question and a full schedule coming up this week.

Bobby Simmons, GF: This one’s more of a speculative pickup/start.  Simmons has started the last three games for the Bucks, replacing the injured Desmond Mason. Simmons hasn’t scored in double figures in over two weeks, so his value is questionable to say the least, but you gotta believe that he’ll make some decent contributions as a starter in the coming weeks. Remember Simmons is only a couple years removed from being named the most improved player in the league when he averaged 16/6/3 with the Clips. He’s also the second-highest paid player on the team (after Michael Redd) and Milwaukee may want to at least pretend like they’re getting some return on their ill-advised investment. If you believe he can get it together, this might be the week to start him as the Bucks hit the hardwood four times.

Delonte West, G: Could someone finally be emerging from Seattle’s backcourt? If so, West is definitely the one we’d all like to see do so. His foot looks to be healed, and he’s taken advantage of Luke Ridnour missing more time with a quad injury. West has averaged 15/4/8 in his last two games, and could be in line for more minutes if he keeps up the solid play. Here’s hoping for some consistency and good times in 2008. West makes for a decent fill-in for those in deeper leagues this week.

Here’s a Special Holiday edition of H2HU for the NBA week of 12/24-12/30.  Drink up and be safe. What’s everybody’s favorite holiday drink anyway? Eggnog? Spiked apple cider? Heineken? Happy Merry Christmakwanzaaka everyone!

Four games: Boston, Miami, Phoenix.

Three Games: Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Golden State, Indiana, LA Lakers, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Seattle, Utah, Washington.

Two Games: Atlanta, Houston, LA Clippers, New York, Toronto.
 
Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Rajon Rondo, G: He’s a borderline fantasy starter every week, but there’s good reason to plug him in for the Holidays. First, Boston has a full schedule on tap, and second, Rondo has improved his overall numbers (11/4/5, 1.7 thefts this month) despite being limited to about 30 mpg in December. He’s finally finding some consistency at the charity stripe this month as well, shooting 69% compared to a Diesel-esque 44% in November. The Celtics hit the road for four games this week, where Rondo tends to get more PT (34 mpg vs. 30mpg at home).

Sean Williams, FC: We’ve talked a bit about the rookie’s potential before, and now we’re starting to see what he can do with decent minutes.  Before Thursday’s game in which he got into early foul trouble, Williams was averaging 14 and 6 with 4 blocks and solid shooting (52% / 75%) in three games as a starter. Coach Lawrence Frank has nicknamed Williams “Le Freak Elastique”, which admittedly has a better ring to it than Jason “Ratboy” Collins.  If Sean can hold onto his starting spot over the likes of Collins and Malik Allen, then he should be able to settle into some nice stat lines and prove to be a decent C2.

Yi Jianlian, PF: The 20-year old rookie from the People’s Republic of China is averaging 14/7 with 1.2 blocks and superb shooting over the last couple weeks. His playing time and overall numbers have been steadily increasing as the season progresses, and you can expect his fantasy contributions to do the same. The Bucks visit Denver on Wednesday for what should be a high scoring affair, then face Chicago and New Jersey later in the week. Get Eazy-Yi in your lineups this week.

Rashad McCants, G: Before sitting out last night with “the flu” the former Tar Heel had caught fire after missing time with a minor injury. McCants has hit at least two treys in all but one game this month and is averaging nearly twice as many threes in December (2.7) as he did last month (1.4). Coming off the bench has improved his shooting percentages (especially from downtown) and he’s actually been getting more minutes in a reserve role. With Randy Foye having another setback and Marko Jaric hitting a wall, look for Rashad to continue his stellar play.

Nazr Mohammed, C: Congratulations Charlotte Bobcats, you have found yourselves a new starting center! You no longer have to worry about Primoz Brezec getting pushed around in the paint now that you’ve landed a 10-year veteran who’s averaged 15 minutes a game over his last four seasons. The journeyman center is actually poised to have a ‘breakout’ of sorts on his new team… as evidenced by his 19/11/1 and 3.5 blocks in his first two starts. Much like his career season in New York where he was a double-double machine, Nazr will be given starters’ minutes in his new digs. One thing we do know about Nazr, is that when given the opportunity, he produces for his fantasy owners.

Brendan Haywood, C: Career year for Brendan… He’s posting close to a double-double every night and has swatted more shots (41) this season than Ben Wallace (37), Tim Duncan (36), and Kevin Garnett (34). Sure, Haywood still sucks, but that doesn’t mean he’s useless in the fantasy world. You gotta give him credit for stepping it up (a bit) with Etan Thomas out for the season and for posting career highs across the board including fantastic percentages (55%FG / 71%FT). With three matchups this week, Haywood makes for a better start than guys like Eddy Curry and Al Horford (2 games a piece).

Here’s looking at you NBA week 12/10-12/16:

Four games: Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, Indiana, LA Clippers, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Sacramento, Seattle, Toronto, Utah.

Three Games: Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, LA Lakers, Memphis, Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, Phoenix, San Antonio, Washington.
 
Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

John Salmons, GF: An obvious pick-up with Kevin Martin out for the next 6 weeks. Salmons is averaging a relatively ridiculous 20/5/4 and 1.4 steals as a starter this season. Similarly, Francisco Garcia (18/4/3, 1.5 spg as a starter) is another nice option with Martin and Bibby both sidelined. Minutes can truly work wonders for a player’s fantasy value (with the exception of Jarron and Jason Collins of course). Salmons and Garcia are nice Christmas gifts for those who were able to snatch them off waivers. The Kings got four games on tap this week. Enjoy.

Travis Outlaw, F: He’s scored in double figures in 5 of his last 6 games despite still coming off the bench in Portland. Outlaw is seeing more playing time mostly at the expense of Martell Webster, who’s numbers have dwindled recently. Many folks have talked about a breakout season for Outlaw every year since 2003, and it may finally happen. His situation reminds me of how Jermaine O’Neal was handled by the Trailblazers in the 1990s.  Like Outlaw, O’Neal was drafted straight out of high school, and was brought along very slowly… never averaging more than 14 minutes per game in his first four seasons in the league. After those four quiet years in Portland, O’Neal was traded to Indiana where he was finally given the opportunity to flourish. He became an All-star almost overnight and has averaged nearly 20/10 ever since. Outlaw has not yet been given that chance, but he could be on the verge of commanding a starting spot in the Blazers’ lineup. Portland plays four times this week and my boy makes a solid fantasy start.

Marko Jaric, GF: Yes, I have an excuse to mention his girlfriend again this week. After missing a couple games with a sprained ankle, Jaric returned to action Thursday and dropped 18/8/9, then helped the Wolves defeat the Suns with 19 points on Saturday. It’s worth noting that Sebastian Telfair and Jaric are both seeing starter’s minutes right now, and they should continue to be decent fantasy starts for at least one more week. Randy Foye has just been cleared by team doctors to return to practice, so be sure to pick him up if you haven’t already done so.

Larry Hughes, G: With the NBA’s scoring leader currently sidelined, the Cleveland Cavs have lost 6 straight games by an average of 16 points. Aside from Lebron, nobody on the team averages more than 14.5 ppg. Needless to say, they are desperately looking for someone to try to fill some of that scoring void. Enter 10-year vet Larry Hughes, who’s missed nearly a month with a bone bruise. Hughes led the Cavs with 22 points, en route to a tough 96-93 loss at Charlotte last night. LBJ will likely be back on the floor this week, but Hughes has an opportunity to be a part of reviving the team. Hughes has averaged at least 15 ppg the last four seasons, and at 28 years old he’s certainly not over the hill. So there’s good reason to believe he can bounce back and have another solid season if he can maintain his health.

Quentin Richardson, GF: He’s averaging only 7.2 ppg and shooting a horrid 32.2% from the floor this season. So why the hell should you start him? Well, let’s just say November wasn’t a good month for Q. He’s playing 40 mpg so far in December and has already seen a uptick in most of his numbers. He’s averaged 1+ treys per game every season since 2001, and cleans the glass quite often for a swingman. He actually averages more rebounds (6.9 rpg) than teammate and so-called center Eddy Curry (5.9 rpg). The Knicks tipoff four times this week (three at home), so don’t be scared to plug him into your lineup in deeper leagues.

Please take a seat:

Andrew Bynum, C: He has been slowed by the flu, and Chris Mihm is inexplicably stealing some of his minutes recently. The Lakers only play three times this week, so you may want to sit Bynum down.

J.R. Smith, SG: He’s hit only 1 trey in four games this month, and he has yet to top 30 minutes in a single game this season. Bench him or drop him. Whatever you prefer.

Let’s look ahead to week 12/3-12/9 in the NBA:

Four games: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, LA Clippers, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Toronto, Utah.

Three Games: Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, LA Lakers, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Portland, Sacramento, Seattle, Washington.

Two Games: Indiana, Orlando, San Antonio.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Antonio McDyess, PF: Averaging 16/8/3 since returning from injury, Dice is having his best season since 2000-’01 in Denver. Of course he’ll never match his glory days as a Nugget, but the big man is proving to be more resilient than some other veterans like Shareef Abdur-Rahim. He’s being asked to start and play 30+ minutes for the first time in a long while, and he’s responded quite well. His 59% shooting from the floor is probably his strongest asset right now and the Pistons got a full schedule coming up. Don’t hesitate… feel free to roll the dice.

Ricky Davis, G: I think BV won the Ricky Davis lovefest award before the season started and his expectations remained high even after Davis was traded to the Heat. Now he’s not exactly having a career year in his new digs, but he is posting a solid 15/4/3 with 1.8 threes and a theft per game. There is some concern since he returned to the bench earlier this week, but he should continue to see around 30 mpg. Plus, as a reserve he becomes the #1 scoring option when Wade and Shaq aren’t on the floor. His numbers may be a bit more volatile going forward, but he’s still a guy you should keep in your lineup, especially with four games on tap.

Andrew Bogut, C: His overall numbers look nearly identical to last season, but the former #1 overall pick is still showing signs of improvement. Look specifically at his impressive 2.3 blocks per game this year. That number is particularly striking considering it’s a jump from 0.5 bpg in ’06-’07 and it’s certainly enough to catapult him up a full tier among the Center rankings.  Let’s hope he keeps up his defensive prowess and posts some solid numbers with four games this week.

Juan Carlos Navarro, G: What’s with the Spanish point guards lately? J.C. has started four straight games and is averaging 19/4/3 with 3 treys and stellar shooting over that stretch. La Bomba not only has a sweet a nickname, but he’s also an intimidating presence in a leather jacket. As long as Pau’s homeboy is starting for the Grizz he should be starting for your squad. Get him in your lineup for four matchups this week.

Derek Fisher, PG: Yes, he actually is a decent option in deeper leagues. Before last night’s blowout at Utah, Fisher had posted 6 straight games scoring in double figures. He’s got a very fixed ceiling, so he’s not someone who can save your season or even your week, but he makes for a respectable flex start.

Sebastian Telfair, PG: I was going to recommend keeping Marko Jaric in your lineups not only because of his solid play as of late, but more so because of his smokin’ hot new girlfriend, Victoria Secret model Adriana Lima. Yes, Mark Madsen and Antoine Walker credit Ms. Lima for inspiring Jaric’s recent success, but I say you gotta give Marko his due props (for landing the righteous babe of course). I mean seriously. Ok sorry, back to basketball… Jaric unfortunately left Friday’s game in the first quarter with a sprained ankle. With Foye already sidelined, and McCants sitting out with a bum knee, that leaves Telfair as the only healthy PG on the Wolves roster. I’m not necessarily endorsing Bassy, I’m just saying he’ll be seeing a lot of minutes this week.

Please have a seat:

Mehmet Okur FC: Sure, Utah plays four games next week, but lets take a closer look at the Thundering Turk. He’s currently shooting a career low 38.4 % from the field, and averaging 4 year lows in points (11.9) and rebounds (5.1). Back spasms forced him out of Wednesday night’s game and he sat last night, so there’s some questions about his health as well. If Okur misses any more time, Paul Millsap (20 pts, 9 boards) obviously becomes a nice fill-in who can actually crash the boards.

Hope everyone enjoyed the leftovers and games this weekend. Here’s a look at the NBA week 11/26-12/2:

Four games: Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, LA Lakers, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Orlando, San Antonio, Seattle, Washington.

Three Games: Atlanta, Detroit, LA Clippers, Memphis, Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, Sacramento, Toronto, Utah.

Two Games: Charlotte, Chicago.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Antonio Daniels, G:  With Gilbert knocked out of action for the winter, Antonio Daniels, AKA “Frozone” from the Incredibles, has posted 12/6/8 with 2 steals and nearly 1 trey per game as a starter.  Butler and Jamison will pick up most of the scoring slack left by Arenas, but Daniels will fill out the rest of the stat line nicely.  With four games on tap, Frozone is certainly a stronger play than PGs like Kirk Hinrich and Ray Felton who each only take the floor twice this week.

Louis Williams, G: In his last 4 games off the bench, the third-year reserve has averaged 19/3/4 with 2 threes and a theft in 30 mpg. In the meantime, starting PG, Andre Miller is averaging career lows in assists, steals, and FT% and is seeing the fewest minutes per game since his rookie year. If Williams can continue to get 30+ minutes a night, his scoring (especially from the arc) could make him more valuable than the veteran Miller. The Sixers tipoff four times this week, so Williams makes a solid start.

Marko Jaric, GF: The veteran Yugo has started 8 straight contests for the Wolves and appears to be reclaiming some fantasy value. In his last two starts, Jaric has posted 17/3/6 with a trey, 1.5 thefts and 2 blocks. Minnesota still holds a record of 1-10, so there is no reason to keep the veteran in their starting lineup for long. Sebastian Telfair is not a professional basketball player, so it looks like Jaric should be able to keep his starting spot until Randy Foye returns sometime next month. The T-Wolves have a full schedule this week, so get Marko in your lineups to maximize his usefulness.

Andrew Bynum, C: The 20-year-old big has started the last three games for the Lakers, and has 3 double doubles in his last 4 games. He’s still not regularly seeing over 30 minutes a game, but the youngster looks poised to average a double double this year as he continues to develop in his third season in the pros. This is the guy that the Lakers refused to let go in a deal for Jason Kidd. Bynum is a super talent who deserves more action on the court. He’ll get sufficient playing time this week as the Lakers play four times. Don’t hesitate to start him over the likes of Brad Miller and Mehmet Okur.

Jose Calderon, PG: We know all about this Spaniard’s passing skills. He dropped 19/3/14 today against Cleveland. He’s an automatic fantasy start as long as T.J. Ford is sidelined (which is quite often).

Please have a seat:

Stromile Swift, FC: Can we please put this to rest once and for all? Stro has never been a consistent fantasy factor at any point in his career. Cut your ties and don’t look back.

Ben Wallace, C: How ugly can it get for Big Ben? He’s posting 10-year lows in points, rebounds, shooting percentages, and blocks. The last time Wallace was this bad was when both he and Bill Clinton were in Washington.

All teams play either 3 or 4 games this coming week, so there is not much disparity in schedules. Here’s a look at NBA games for the week of Thanksgiving, 11/19-11/25:

Four games: Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Indiana, LA Lakers, Memphis, New Jersey, New Orleans, Orlando, San Antonio, Toronto, Washington.

Three Games: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, LA Clippers, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Seattle, Utah.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Bonzi Wells, SG – One of the best rebounding guards in the NBA, the ten-year veteran has an opportunity do some damage this week. T-Mac was knocked out of Wednesday’s game with a strained elbow and Bonzi filled in nicely, posting 21 and 10 with 2 steals and 3 blocks.

Stephen Jackson, GF – Mr. Congeniality is set to return to the Warriors’ lineup this Sunday night after serving his 7-game suspension. Golden State is still seeking their first win of the season and will be glad to have their team captain back on the floor. As long as he can watch his mouth and avoid throwing any punches, S-Jax should return to posting the solid numbers that made him a mid-round draft selection.

Josh Childress, GF – Year in and year out you can land him in the final rounds of your fantasy draft or pick him up of waivers, and J-Chill always finds a way to contribute across the board. He broke out of his early season slumber with 23 points on 9 for 12 shooting Wednesday night, and could see more minutes these next few games with Josh Smith banged up. The Hawks tip-off three times this week and Childress makes a decent start, especially if you need to fill a hole in your lineup.

J.R. Smith, SG – Smith has not topped 25 minutes in a game this season, yet he’s still managed to hit 2 treys a night. He appears to have supplanted Linas Kleiza as the Nuggets’ sharpshooter du jour. With four games on tap, you can expect to garner about 10 threes from J.R. this week.

Speaking of sharpshooters, you may want to consider…
Morris Peterson, GF – Scored 27 points (6 for 9 from the arc) Wednesday night.
Keith Bogans, SG – Currently fifth in the league with 23 three-pointers made (ahead of Ray Allen and Steve Nash).
Anthony Parker, GF – In his last three games Parker is averaging 18/4/2 with 3 treys. Hot hand is a smart play for four games this week.

Please have a seat:

Sebastian Telfair, PG – This guy’s career is going nowhere fast. We’re eagerly awaiting Randy Foye’s return to the T-Wolves’ lineup.

Seattle Point Guards – Luke Ridnour, Delonte West, and Earl Watson can all be solid fantasy contributors when they get starter’s minutes, however they are currently averaging 15, 20, and 26 mpg respectively. Look elsewhere for the time being.

 

Sorry about the short hiatus, but we’re back.  BV already gave you some excuses, so I won’t get into that. Anyway, here’s the first installment of our weekly Head-to-Head’s Up column, where we take a look at upcoming games and recommend starting a handful of players you may otherwise not have in your fantasy lineups.  Matchups, recent trends, and the number of games on the schedule all factor into the equation.  Let’s look ahead at the first full week of NBA games in the 07-08 season:

Four games: Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, LA Clippers, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio, Seattle, Toronto.

Three Games: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Indiana, Memphis, Milwaukee, Miami, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Sacramento, Utah, Washington.

Two Games: Golden State, LA Lakers.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
 
Danny Granger, F – In his second year, Granger emerged as a reliable fantasy contributor last season averaging 14/5/1.5 with solid percentages and 1.3 treys. Many are predicting a true breakout this season, and Danny got started on the right foot Wednesday night against the Wiz, posting 20/13 with 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 5 rainmakers. With three games on tap this week, including two at home (LAC, DEN), Granger is a smart play.

John Salmons, GF – It’s déjà vu all over again for Mike Bibby. Entering the season with a hand injury, except this year he opted for surgery, which will have him sidelined until January. In the meantime, the Kings don’t really have a proven PG to fill-in for Bibby, although they just signed Beno Udrich who was recently released by the lowly T-Wolves. John Salmons, Francisco Garcia, and Orien Greene are all in line for more minutes, but it was the former Sixer who stepped up opening night, dropping 22/2/9 in 45 minutes. The veteran swingman makes a decent play with 3 home games (SEA, CLE, MIN) next week.

Kyle Korver, SF – Three years ago the Creighton alum led the league with 226 3-pointers made. Last season he was relegated to coming off the bench, yet managed to post career highs in points (14.4) and shooting (44%FG). He remains one of the league’s top three-point specialists (4 for 7 opening night), and if he can average 2+ treys and 1+ thefts a night, he’ll certainly deserve a regular spot in your lineup.

Walt Herrmann, F – Having appeared in only 58 games in his first two seasons, Sean May can’t seem to catch a break (out for the season with knee surgery), and Adam Morrison’s flying moustache is also out for the year with his own knee injury. That leaves the Herrmanator to pick up most of the slack. Plus, considering the fragility of Charlotte’s frontcourt (Wallace, Okafor, Brezec), Herrman could be in line for some serious playing time this season. Keep in mind this is a guy who averaged 20/6/1 with 2.3 treys in 12 starts to finish the 06-07 season. The Bobcats have yet to play their first game, so it will be interesting to see how they rotate him in tonight.

DeSagana Diop, C – The 7-footer from Senegal got the start on Halloween as old-timer Erik Dampier was forced to sit with an injury. Diop responded with 8/11/1 and 4 swats in 37 minutes. Those minutes are the key factor in determining Diop’s value. As long as Dampier is out, Double D makes a fine play at center.

Marko Jaric, GF – There was a time when MJ had some fantasy value as a Clipper, and now it appears he may have a chance to be relevant again. Prime breakout candidate, Randy Foye, is sidelined indefinitely with a bum knee, which has his fantasy owners sulking (myself in particular), but that just opens up more playing time for Rashad McCants, Sebastian Telfair, and Jaric. This is a very young team in complete rebuilding mode, so there’s a good chance McCants and Telfair will get the bulk of available minutes, but don’t be surprised to see Jaric handling the rock early on this season. Minnesota is another team that has yet to play, so be sure to see what happens when they tip off tonight against the Nuggets.

Happy Easter… to all of you who celebrate that sort of thing.  It’s been another great season and now it’s go time. If you’re still reading this column you’ve probably made it to your fantasy league finals.  Here’s a look at the final week and a half of the regular NBA season 4/9-4/18:

Seven Games: LA Clippers

Six Games: Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Indiana, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Utah, Washington.

Five Games: Atlanta, Golden State, Houston, LA Lakers, Miami, New Orleans, Phoenix, Seattle, Toronto.

Four Games: Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Memphis.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Jarvis Hayes and Antonio Daniels, SF/PG: With Tough Juice and Agent Zero both sidelined, Hayes and Daniels are must starts in all leagues to finish off the year. In his three starts filling in for Gil, Antonio has averaged 14/4/13, meanwhile Jarvis erupted for 29 points (including 5 treys) last night at New Jersey.  Those are some nice free agent pickups at this point in the season.  Poor Poor Wizards.

Jason Hart, PG: Yes, for real.  The Clippers are the only team in the league with seven games left to play, and Hart is averaging a pretty decent 14/6/5 and 1.2 steals in 39 mpg over his last five. He won’t shoot from long range, but he’ll contribute elsewhere and should post good percentages (48/87% this season). Plus, it’s not like Sam Cassell is about to be raised from the dead… he’s ain’t Jesus you know. (Although the Clips are back in playoff contention somehow, so you never know).

Nate Robinson, G: Ok, so let’s make it three straight weeks with the Dunkin’ Munchkin.  Robinson was back in the Knicks’ SLU yesterday, and he delivered a career-high 34 points and a season-high 7 assists. Nate’s hit 10 treys in his last two games. The season started with 14 guards competing for playing time in New York’s backcourt, but it’s now been reduced to two: Lil’ Nate and Mardy Collins. The former Temple University star, btw, makes a good pickup if Marbury is to miss anymore time with turf toe (shouldn’t it be called “hardwood toe” in basketball?)

Allan Ray, G: No, I’m not dyslexic.  I’m talking about the undrafted rookie out of ‘Nova.  It’s that time of year again, and the Celts wanna see what they got.  In two starts Ray has scored 35 total points, including 6 rainmakers. With Pierce, Jefferson, and West all hurting someone’s gotta pick up the slack (see also: Gerald Green & Rajon Rondo).

Antonio McDyess, PF: The Dice Man got the start today over Rasheed Wallace because coach Saunders wants to limit Sheed’s minutes going into the playoffs.  McDyess responded with 18 points, a season-high 13 boards and 3 swats as Detroit continued to work toward home court advantage for the postseason.  Keep in mind, Rasheed is likely to get at least one more technical this season, which would mean another one-game suspension. 

So, go now and destroy your opponent for the league championship. When you brag be sure to mention that you were victorious despite being an avid FBB reader all year long.
As for everyone else, I hope you didn’t screw up your fantasy baseball draft… enjoy a long hot summer of hardball. Goodnight and Godspeed.